Dispenser



April 8, 1958 c. A. MUENCH ET AL i 2,329,804

DISPENSER Filed Oct. l1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l d V l INVENTOR':

ATTORNEY pni 8, 1958 c. A. MUENCH ET AL 2,829,304

DISPENSER Filed oct. 11, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 OGEN ATTOR/V E Y nited States DISPENSER Charles A.'Muench-and Herbert E. Muench, Richmond Heights, Mo.

Application October 11,1955, Serial No. 539,818

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-260) This-invention .pertains to adevice for dispensing fluids in small charges, more particularly fluids of appreciable viscosity such as oils, soapA paste, and similar compounds.

An object of this invention is to lprovide a dispenser which by simple operation of a handle will dispense a fixed quantity of fluid at each operation.

Another object is toprovide sucha device which may be applied to dispense the lluid` directly from the standard marketing container in which it is received.

Generally zstated, the device comprises a cover member which may be applied tothe fluid container after the latter hasbeen opened. This cover is formed with a dispensingduct, and a conductor tube is'` attached tothe cover member so as to communicate `with said duct, and is positionedto extend into the containerwhenthe cover member is applied thereto. Means for removably securing the cover on the container are provided. A plunger mounted for reciprocating movement in the cover member carries a self-valving piston which is movable in the conductor tube by operation of the plunger. A spring returns the plunger to its initial position and a removable stop member on the plunger iixes that position. Thus, by using stop members of different sizes, the stroke of the plunger and the piston may be varied. The fluid is dispensed by pressing the plunger inward and releasing the same, which causes the piston to move into the conductor tube for a distance limited by the compression of the spring. During this movement, the piston acts as a valve permitting passage Yof a certain quantity of the fluid. When the plunger is released, the springreturns it and the piston to its initial position as determined by the stop, and the amount of fluid valved during the stroke is delivered to the dispensing duct. A spring-operated pressure plate guided by the conductortube is arranged to rest upon the surface of the fluid in the container to move downward with it as the container is emptied. This plate serves to compact certain fluids, such as paste, to avoid entrapment of air thereby.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.

Referring tothe drawings, 1 designates the'cover member, which maybe cast of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The cover member 1 may, in some cases, be provided with a wall bracket 2 having openings 3 to receive fasteners for mounting in a convenient place for access. It may, however, be used without such wall mounting. A dispensing duct 4 is formed in the cover 1, extending to the middle portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cover 1 is generally disk-shapedand has formed on its underside a circular cavity 5 providing a socket. The rim of this socket has formed thereon or attached thereto a pluralityof dogs 6 extending inward and upward, as shown in Fig. 2.

vThese dogs are so positioned and dimensioned that the i'ree upper end of a container 7, shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, which may be the standard marketing container in which the fluid is received, may be passed into the socket between the dogs 6. Such container usually has a bead formed by rolling the walls outward, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 2. The dimensions are such that this bead must be sprung inward slightlyto pass the dogs 6 after which it may restupon said dogs'to support the container. A conductor tube 9 is mounted centrally in the cover 1, as by a thread connection .10 or otherwise, so as to extend downward into the container 7. This tube 9 communicates at its upper end with the duct 4, as shown in Fig. 2, and at its lower end is open so that the fluid may'flow into it from the container 7.

A plunger 12 isslidably mounted in an upright lug 13, formed on the cover 1 and carries at its lower end a self-valving piston member 14. The member 14 may be l offlexible material, such as leather or rubber, sothat when the stem 12 is forced downward, the pressure of the fluid may bend this member upward and pass the same as the piston moves downward in the tube. The member l@ vmay be supported against downward liexure by a supporting washer 1S .and a nut 16 screwed on the stern 12. The spring 17 surrounds the upper portion of the stem 12, urging the'sameupward so as to lift the piston member i4, during which movement the piston carries withit the fluid which has passed it on the downstroke. The upward movement is arrested by engagement of the piston `member 14 with a stop in the .form of a spacer tube 13 mounted on the lower end of the stem 12. Thus the stem 12 may be forced downward for a distance such as to completely compress the spring 17 during which movement the fluid in the tube 9 passes upward past the piston 14. Upon release of the stem 12, the spring 1.7 raises the same and the piston 14. During this return movement, the piston pushes a quantity of fluid which has passed it upward into the duct 4 until its movement is arrested by the stop 18. The quantity of fluid delivered at each stroke may be varied by replacing the sleeve 18 with other similar sleeves of different lengths, this sleeve being removable for that purpose.

Mounted to surround the tube 9 with a loose fit thereon is Va follower plate 19 which may be provided with a gasket 20. This plate is not required in all cases, particularly with uids of low viscosity. However, with some forms of paste,A it is desirable to have this plate resting on the iuid in the container and moving downward therewith as the container is emptied. This serves to compact the paste and to prevent adhesion to the walls of the container. It also minimizes the tendency to entrap air in the fluid. In cases where extra pressure is required, a spring 21 may be applied between the plate 19 and the cover 1 so as to apply the desired pressure. The lower side portions of the tube 9 may be liared, as indicated at 22 so as to prevent the plate 19 from slipping off the tube when the container 7 is emptied.

it will be seen that this invention provides a simple and effective device for dispensing liuids lof the type described. To dispense a charge of fluid to the stern 17, it is simply forced downward and released. During the downward movement, the piston 14 valves a charge of iiuid as described. During the succeeding upward movement, said charge is delivered to the duct 4 and the suction created in the tube 9 by the upward movement of the piston draws additional fluid into the tube 9 from the container '7. As the can 7 is emptied, it is simply sprung out of the socket 5 and a new one opened and sprung into said socket as described.

The device may be used in practically any position and may, of course, be supported in any suitable manner. If provided with a wall bracket 2, it may be supported in a simple manner in a location accessible to all persons desiring to use the uid.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritof this invention. VParts of the invention may be used without the whole and improvements may be added while retaining some or all of the advantages of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a dispenser for tluid materials comprising a container for the material, a cover for said container having a dispensing duct, a conductor tube mounted on said cover to extend into said container, said conductor tube having one end communicating with said duct, and having the other end open to said container to permit ow of material into the tube, a plunger mounted for reciprocating movement along said tube, the plunger having a reduced portion at its lower end to provide a shoulder, a sleeve slidably litted and mounted on the said reduced portion of the plunger, a valving piston carried by and removably mounted on said plunger below said sleeve, and an adjustment means on said plunger for tightening said piston against said sleeve and for tightening said sleeve against said shoulder, the sleeve being retained between said shoulder and said piston, said sleeve extending laterally outward of said plunger to provide a stop abutment, said stop abutment engaging the cover to limit movement of said plunger and piston'and thereby determine the displacement of said piston.

2. In a dispenser for uid materials comprising a container for the material, a cover for said container having a dispensing duct, a conductor tube mounted on said cover to extend into said container, said conductor tube having one end communicating with'said duct, and having the other end open to said container to permit flow of material into the tube, a plunger rod mounted in said cover for reciprocating movement along said tube, said plunger rod having a reduced portion at its lower end to provide a shoulder and having a threaded portion below said reduced portion, a sleeve slidably tted and mounted yon the said reduced portion of the plunger, said sleeve having its upper end engaging said shoulder, a valving piston carried by and removably mounted on said plunger rod below said sleeve, and a nut threadedly attached to the threaded portion of said plunger rod, said nut threadedly tightening the piston against the lower end of said sleeve and tightening the sleeve against said shoulder, the sleeve being retained between said shoulder and said piston, said sleeve extending laterally outward of said plunger rod to provide a `stop abutment, said stop abutment engaging the cover to limit movement vof said plunger rod and piston and thereby determine the displacement of said piston.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITEDV STATES PATENTS 831,758 Yanacopoulo Sept. 25, 1906 1,715,329 Prescott May 28, 1929 1,715,522 Townsend et al. June 4, 1929 1,724,766 McCauley Aug. 13, 1929 1,947,088 Johnson et al Feb. 13, 1934 2,534,504 Engstrom Dec. 19, 1950 2,545,988 Bobrick Mar. 20, 1951 2,577,417 Halpin Dec. 4, 1951 2,629,328 Ladd Feb. 24, 1953 2,735,586 Field Feb. 21, 1956 

